Carrying bag construction



Dec. 28, 1965 v 5, PoLLAK ETAL 3,225,806

CARRYING BAG CONSTRUCTION Filed June '7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E- Z Jr 5. E.

INVENTORS wave 5. Pam/4 26 600026 Name?- United States Patent ()fiice 3,225,805 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,806 CARRYING BAG CONSTRUCTION Victor S. Pollak, Yardley, Pa, and Theodore W. Cart,

Harbourton, NJI, assignors to Atlantic Products (lorporation, Trenton, NJ, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 260,779 3 Claims. (Q1. 150-52) Our invention relates to a novel construction for carrying bags, and more specifically relates to a novel arrangement for carrying bags adapted particularly for receiving bowling balls.

In manufacturing a bowling ball carrying bag, it would be highly advantageous to have a tote bag type construction since this is an attractive design, and would have considerable commercial appeal. Two major problems are encountered when the bag is to be constructed in this form. The first is that the carrying handle would have to have a length which is at least equal to the length of one-half the periphery of the bag so that the ball could be top-loaded when the open end of the bag is completely open. That is, the handle must be long enough so that it will not cover the opening through which the ball is to be inserted. Because of this, a relatively long handle is required so that when the bag is carried it will carry quite low and can, for example, strike stairs when one goes up and down stairs.

A second drawback in tote-type bag construction in which a bottom is to be sewn to the walls of the bag, is that the weighh of the ball on the bottom of the bag would require that the bottom of the bag be of sturdy, rigid material which is very securely fastened to the walls of the bag. This requires an expensive construction, but is necessary to prevent the bottom of the bag from bulging outwardly, and from preventing the bottom of the bag from being torn from the tubular walls.

The principle of the present invention is to provide a novel tote bag-type construction for carrying bags wherein the aforementioned two problems are eliminated.

In accordance with the first feature of the invention, the carrying handle is permanently secured to one side of the top of the bag, and can be clipped to the other side of the bag by a snap fastener-type arrangement. Thus, the mouth of the bag can be completely opened with the handle unclipped from its normal position. Thereafter, the top of the bag may be drawn closed and the relatively short handle which could, for example, have a length of the order of one-third of the periphery of the bag is then snapped in position. Since the handle is short, the bag will not be low slung when carried.

In accordance with the second feature of the invention, a novel sling arrangement which preferably has its ends secured to the same point that receives the novel carrying handle is carried within the bag interior, and is arranged to receive the relatively heavy weight of a bowling ball. Thus, the ball, while the bag is being carried, will be carried in the sling which is directly secured to the carrying handle, and the bottom of the bag need not serve the function of carrying a heavy weight without buckling.

Accordingly, the bag becomes much more economical in that the bottom of the bag can be of relatively flexible material which is secured to the walls of the bag in a manner sufiicien't for the non-stress type of use of the bottom of the bag. That is to say, the bottom of the bag serves only to complete the enclosure, and does not have to be constructed in a manner to support a heavy weight.

While the two features noted above are particularly applicable for use with tote bag type bowling ball bags, it will be apparent that their use can be extended either individually or in combination to other carrying bag applications.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel carrying bag for bowling balls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel tote-type bowling ball carrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel short handle for carrying bags which is permanently secured only at one end thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel sling arrangement for the interior of a carrying bag wherein the sling receives the bulk of the weight to be carried within the bag and removes this function from the bag bottom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel sling for the interior of carrying bags wherein the sling is adapted to carry heavy weights placed within the bag and its upper ends are secured to the top of the bag at points where carrying handles are attached.

These and other objects of our novel invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a tote-type bag constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the bag of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a view of the bag of FIGURE 1 with the flap in the closed position.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the bag of FIGURES 1 and 2 with the drawstring in the partially retracted position.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG- URES 1 through 4 to illustrate the eyelet arrangement in the top of the bag for receiving the drawstring.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of a sling in its extended position where the sling is to be used with the bag of FIG- URES 1 through 5.

FIGURE 7 shows the bag of FIGURES 1 through 5 in conjunction with the sling of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the carrying handle of the bag of FIGURES 1 through 5.

FIGURE 9 shows a top view of a modified bag arrangement wherein opopsing stiffening members are not used in the drawstring arrangement.

FIGURE 10 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a bag in which the walls are of relatively rigid material as compared to the walls of flexible material for the bags of FIGURES 1 through 9.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of the bag of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 shows an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the bag manufactured in accordance with the invention wherein the bottom of the bag is integral with the sling.

FIGURE 13 shows a side view of the bag of FIGURE 12 with the handle in the open position.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 5, we have shown therein a form of a tote bag known as a pleated arrangement as contrasted to the flower-type arrangement of FIGURE 9.

The bag in FIGURES 1 through 5 is generally formed of a tubular body portion 20 which is formed of a tube of cloth or leather or similar flexible material, and which is prefabricated into a tubular form. A bottom portion 21 is sewn across the bottom of tube 20 in any desired manner, and an additional strip 22 which can serve a decorative function, and can also serve to receive appropriate welting arrangements for securing the bottom of the bag 21 t0 tube 20, may be provided.

The bottom portion 21 can, for example, be formed of the same cloth or leather or other flexible material as the tube 20, and, if desired, can have an additional layer of a fiberboard secured thereto in any desired manner (not shown). Where desired, an additional pocket 23 having a flap 24 can be provided on the outside of tubular body 20.

The top of the bag is then provided with a plurality of eyelets, best shown in FIGURE 5, such as eyelets 25, 26, 27, 2S and 29. The eyelets 26 and 27 pass through a stiffening member 31] which is sewn to an upper portion of the bag and can, for example, receive a hook 351 which cooperates with the clasp 32 of a covering flap 33. In a similar manner, a second stiffener member 34 extends across the area to include eyelets 28 and 29.

A drawstring 35 then passes through the eyelets in the manner best shown in FIGURE 4 with its two ends extending through eyelets 26 and 27 so that the drawstring can pull the top of the bag closed with the eyelets causing the top of the bag to assume the pleated closed arrangement seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Thereafter, the flap 33 can be closed, as shown in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the first feature of the invention, and where the bag is specifically adapted for use with bowling balls, in order to insert the bowling ball into the bag, it is necessary to provide a large mouth opening at the top of the bag as by almost completely straightening out the pleats by pulling apart stiffener members 30 and 34. Where a permanent handle is secured to the bag as would be the expected type of arrangement, it follows that the handle must have a length sufliciently large to permit the ball to be easily dropped into the opening. This, however, would mean that the bag would have to hang very low when being carried, since the handle would have to have a relatively large length.

In accordance with a first feature of the present invention, a carrying handle 40 is provided (FIGURE 8) which, as shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, has a loop 41 (FIGURE 8) which is secured to ring 42, while the other end of handle 40 is provided with a snap-type fastener 43 Which is formed of the well-known type of fastener having a hook 44 which receives a spring blade 45. As shown in FIGURE 8, the clip 43 is carried from a loop 46 secured to handle 40.

The clip 43 then can be easily clipped on and removed from hook 47 (FIGURES 1 through 4) whereby the length of the handle need only be sufiicient to extend between rings 42 and 47 when the top of the bag is closed. Thus, one can now open the one end of the handle so that a ball can be loaded into the top of the bag without interference from the handle.

Moreover, once the relatively short handle is closed, the bag can be conveniently carried in a high position, since the handle is short. It has been found that the length of the handle is preferably of the order of one-third of the length of the periphery of the open end of the bag.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a modification of the bag of FIGURES 1 through wherein the construction is identical to that of FIGURE 5, except that the stiffener members and 34 of FIGURE 5 are not provided so that the drawstring will close the top of the bag in a flowtype arrangement as contrasted to the pleated arrangement shown in FIGURE 4. Moreover, FIGURE 9 shows that the flap 33 is eliminated, whereby a less expensive bag can be formed retaining, however, the novel concept of the relatively short handle 40.

A second important feature of the invention comprises the use of a novel sling arrangement within the interior of the bag where the sling receives the weight to be inserted in the bag. This novel sling is illustrated in FIG- URE 6, and is shown in cross-section in FIGURE 7 as being assembled within the bag of FIGURES 1 through 5, or the bag of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, the sling is comprised of a canvas strip 50 having ends 51 and 52. A platform 53 of relatively rigid material and a ball-receiving cup 54 may then be secured to canvas strip 50 as by rivets 55 and 56, or in any other desired manner. Moreover, the two sides of canvas strip 50 may have pockets 57 and 58 sewn thereto which could receive bowling shoes or other accessories.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, we have illustrated the sling ends 51 and 52. as being secured to flexible tube 20 at first and second opposing portions of tube 20 as by the sewn lines 59 and 60. The same sewn lines 59 and 619 capture leather loops 61 and 62 respectively which, in turn, receive the rings 47 and 4?. respectively which later receive handle 44 The length of canvas strip 50 is made to be slightly less than the length of the bag material adjacent thereto. It is, however, possible to make the sling length equal to the length of the adjacent bag portion, it only being necessary that the weight inserted in the bag such as a bowling ball which is received by cup 54, be carried from the sling through the handle which is received by clips 42 and 47, whereupon the bottom portion 21 of the bag is relieved of stress-carrying duty. Therefore, the bottom portion 21 of the bag can be formed of a flexible material similar to the material which forms the body of tube 20, and can be sewn to tube 213 as by the stitching line 63 without great regard for the strength of the seam. Moreover, and since the platform 53 is of relatively rigid material compared to the bottom portion 21, the bottom of the bag will not sag even though a heavy weight is contained within the bag.

As indicated above, the two main features of the invention, the carrying handle arrangement and sling arrangement which are used in combination, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, are particularly applicable when forming a tote bag arrangement having the external appearance shown, for example, in FIGURES l and 2.

It is, however, possible to use these features in other type carrying bags. By way of example, in FIGURES l0 and 11, we have illustrated a carrying bag 70 which has four relatively rigid walls 71, 72, 73 and 74. These walls are connected together by flexible web portions 75, 7d, 77 and 78 which permit the bag to be expansible so that a large opening can be made for loading the bag.

A flap 79 having a clasp 80 which receives a ring 81 (FIGURE 11) may then be provided for closing the top of the bag. The problem again arises in this type of arrangement where a permanent handle is used that the permanent handle must have sufficient length to permit the flap 79 to clear the handle. In accordance with the present invention, however, the handle 82 which is secured to ring 83 may be provided with a clip 84 which can be connected to ring 85 after the cover 79 is opened or closed. Thus, when the handle 82 is in its secured position, it is relatively short and the bag can be carried in a high position.

FIGURES l2 and 13 illustrate an embodiment of the invention for an inexpensive bag in which the bottom of the bag is not sewn to the walls of the tubular body of the bag. More specifically, in FIGURES 12 and 13, the bag is inexpensively formed of a first length of fabric or similar flexible material which is in the form of a U, and which receives a rigid platform 101 within the bottom of the U. The platform 101, can, for example, be formed of an appropriate rigid plastic material. The platform 101 then carries a ball cup 102 which is adapted to receive a bowling ball with cup 102, platform 101, and sling 100 being secured together as by four rivets 103, 104, 105 and 106.

It will be noted that sling 100 has appropriate eyelets such as eyelets 1117 through 116 therein, with a similar set of eyelets in the other end of the sling for receiving a draw string.

Moreover, leather straps such as straps 111 and 112 are provided for receiving the ends of handle 113 which has a clip fastener 114 at its outer end in the manner described in the preceding embodiments of the invention.

The bag of FIGURES l2 and 13 is completed by the sewing of front and rear panel 115 and 116 respectively to the edges of the sling shaped body portion 100. Appropriate welts can be utilized in making this sewn connection.

If desired, the front and rear panels 115 and 116 may have stiffening members 117 and 118 secured thereto as by sewing and will have the eyelets 119-120 and 121-122 respectively, for receiving the drawstring 123.

It Will be observed that the bag of FIGURES 12 and 13 lends itself to inexpensive construction with the same desirable sling characteristics as was afforded in the foregoing embodiments. Moreover, the bag will be carried high since the handle 113 may be a short handle in view of the removable connection between clip 114 and the ring 114a secured to the leather strap 111.

Although we have described preferred embodiments of our novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and we prefer, therefore, to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A carrying bag comprising a flexible tubular body portion; a bottom portion secured to and extending across the bottom of said tubular body portion, closure means secured to the top of said flexible tubular body portion; and carrying handle means; one end of said carrying handle means being connected to a first portion of the top of said flexible tubular body portion; the other end of said carrying handle having fastener means secured thereto; a second portion of said top of said flexible tubular body portion diametrically opposite said first portion having fastener receiving means for cooperating with said fastener; said carrying handle having a length of the order of /3 of the periphery of the top of said flexible tubular body portion; and sling means internal of said bag having first and second ends secured to said first and second portions respectively of said flexible tubular body portion; the length of said sling means being substantially equal to or less than the adjacent length of the said carrying bag body portion and bottom portion; the bottom of said sling means having a weight receiving platform secured thereto; said bottom portion being relieved of carrying the weight carried by said weight receiving platform; the sides of said sling being of flexible material; said sides having pockets therein.

2. A carrying bag comprising a tubular body portion; a bottom portion secured to and extending across the bottom of said tubular body portion, closure means secured to the top of said tubular body portion; and carrying handle means; one end of said carrying handle means being connected to a first portion of the top of said tubular body portion; the other end of said carrying handle having fastener means secured thereto; a second portion of said top of said tubular body portion diametrically opposite said first portion having fastener receiving means for cooperating with said fastener; and sling means internal of said bag having first and second ends secured to said first and second portions respectively of said flexible tubular body portion; the length of said sling means being substantially equal to or less than the adjacent length of the said carrying bag body portion and bottom portion; the bottom of said sling means having a Weight receiving platform secured thereto; the sides of said sling being of flexible material; said sides having pockets therein.

3. A carrying bag comprising a tubular body portion, a bottom portion secured to and extending across the bottom of said tubular body and a weight securing sling internal of said bag; the ends of said sling being secured at respective and opposing first and second portions at the top of said tubular body portion; said sling permitting a weight inside of said bag to be supported from the said first and second portions of said bag and removing the weight supporting function of said bottom portion of said bag; the length of said sling means being substantially equal to or less than the adjacent length of the said carrying bag body portion and bottom portion; the bottom of said sling means having a weight receiving platform secured thereto; the sides of said sling being of flexible material; said sides having pockets therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,846 4/1918 Osgood 11 1,844,068 2/1932 Martin 1501.5 1,979,263 11/ 1934 Halpin 15033 2,431,030 11/1947 Edwards 150-12 X 2,464,069 3/1949 Benson 15011 X 2,580,958 1/ 1952 Robinson.

2,746,582 5/1956 Cart 15012 X 2,872,029 2/ 1959 Cart.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner. 

1. A CARRYING BAG COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION; A BOTTOM PORTION SECURED TO AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF SID TUBULAR BODY PORTION, CLOSURE MEANS SECURED TO THE TOP OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION; AND CARRYING HANDLE MEANS; ONE END OF SAID CARRYING HANDLE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO A FIRST PORTION OF THE TOP OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION; THE OTHER END OF SAID CARRYING HANDLE HAVING FASTENER MEANS SECURED THERETO; A SECOND PORTION OF SAID TOP OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SAID FIRST PORTION HAVING FASTENER RECEIVING MEANS FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID FASTENER; SAID CARRYING HANDLE HAVING A LENGTH OF THE ORDER OF 1/3 OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOP OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION; AND SLING MEANS INTERNAL OF SAID BAG HAVING FIST AND SECOND ENDS SECURED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BODY PORTION; THE LENGTH OF SAID SLING MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE ADJACENT LENGTH OF THE SAID CARRYING BAG BODY PORTION AND BOTTOM PORTION; THE BOTTOM OF SAID SLING MEANS HAVING A WEIGHT RECEIVING PLATFORM SECURED THEREOT; SAID BOTTOM PORTION BEING RELIEVED OF CARRYING THE WEIGHT CARRIED BY SAID WEIGHT RECEIVING PLATFORM; THE SIDES OF SAID SLING BEING OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL; SAID SIDES HAVING POCKETS THEREIN. 